Railway signal-torpedo.



I F. BUTCHER. RAILWAY SIGNAL TOBEEDQ. APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 1909.

929,41 r Patented July 27, 1909.

illilllllllllll 1 fi d nmswv a mum co mnmumoommins. w ammo c UNIE FRANKBUTCHER, OF VERSAILLES, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY SIGNAL-TORPEDO.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK DUTGHER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Versailles, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRailway Signal- Torpedoes, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to improvements in railway signal torpedoes, andthe object of which is to provide an improved manner of attaching therail-engaging strap to a torpedo which consists oi inner and outerfibrous tubular cases. I

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional viewof a torpedo embodying the present improvement, showing it applied to arailroad rail. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View thereof. Fig. 3 isa horizontal sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2, looking in thedirection indicated by arrows. Fig. 4 is a detached perspective view ofthe strap holding plate. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the outerand inner cases detached and the relative position of the rail-engagingstrap.

The torpedo to which my present improvement is applied, consists of apaper or fibrous outer open ended tubular inclosing case 1, and an innerpaper or fibrous open ended explosive receiving case 2, which is placedwithin the inclosing case 1, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The explosivemixture 3 is placed within the inner case 2 and also the inner case 2 ishere shown as shorter than the outer case 1, thus forming pockets at theend to receive the closing water-proof compound 1. N 0 claim is madehereinto that construction, because it is claimed in a co-pendingapplication filed by me May 1st, 1909, Serial No.

The present improvement pertains particularly to the construction andlocation of a stiffening and strap retaining plate 5. This plate 5 isapproximately rectangular in plan view, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4., andis placed between the bases of the inner and outer cases 1 and 2, theinner case being suificiently smaller than the outer case to permit itsreception between them. As shown in Fig. 5 the outer face of the innercase 2, is provided with a longitudinal strap receiving groove 6, andthe strap is placed between the plate 5 and the base of the inner tube.To

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 1, 1909.

Patented July 27, 1909.

Serial No. 493,329.

facilitate the placing of the plate 5 within the outer tube, its corners7 are rounded, as shown in Fig. 4, and the plate is attached to theouter tube and is held against longitudinal movement by means of raggedprojections 8, formed in any desired manner, but as here shown by meansof punching the plate.

I11 assembling the torpedo, the plate 5 is placed within the outer caseand the plate placed on a suitable mandrel and the projections 8 driveninto the inner wall of the base of the inclosing tube 1, by means of ahammer or other suitable implement. The inner tube having been filledwith the explosive material is then placed within the outer tube withits base resting on the plate and the ends of the tubes then closed bysuitable water-proofing compound 4. As is well understood by thoseskilled in this art, the railengaging strap 9 consists of soft lead oraluminium, and the strap when the parts are placed in position will tosome extent be de ilected into the opening 10 of the plate 5, as shownin Figs. 1 and 3, thus serving to lock the strap against longitudinalmovement. This plate 5 serves the double function of stifiening thetorpedo and of holding the strap in position, and is also so placed inrelation to the explosive compound that it is forced downward againstthe rail, and by reason of the absence of any lateral flanges on theplate 5, there is no segregation of the plate to form fiying pieces orparticles and the plate is clamped against the rail by the engine wheelat the moment of collision.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. An improved railway torpedo comprising telescoped inner and outercases, an explosive compound within the inner case, a plate between thebases of the two cases and the rail-engaging strap between the base ofthe inner case and the said plate.

2. An improved torpedo comprising inner and outer fibrous cases, anexplosive complate between the bases of the cases and a rail-engagingstrap attached to the torpedo.

4. An improved railway torpedo compris ing telescoped inner and outercases, a plate between the bases of the cases, said plate havingoutwardly extending projections for engaging the inner face of the baseof the outer case, an explosive mixture in the inner case and arail-engaging member carried-by the torpedo.

5. An improved railway torpedo comprising telescoped inner and outercases, the inner case carrying an explosive mixture, a plate between thebases of the cases, the outer face of the base of the inner case havinga longitudinal groove and a rail-engaging strap placed within saidgroove.

6. An improved railway torpedo comprising inner and outer telescopedopen ended tubular cases, the inner case carrying an explosive mixture,a plate located between the ases of the cases and a water-proof closurefor the ends of the two cases.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK BUTCHER.

Witnesses H. P. PRIoE, S. I. PRIoE.

